Money, Politics, and Law

Money, Politics, and Law is a detailed and systematic analysis of electoral expenditure controls in Canada. Making frequent comparisons with Britain and the United States, it examines the historical background to the issue of electoral expenditure, the legislative control imposed upon political parties, and the struggle arising from the potentially conflicting goals of equality enforced by finance control and the protection of liberty expressed in the Canadian constitution.This stimulating study has several important lessons for British politics. First, there is constant concern about the unfairness of the British electoral system and methods of party financing. Proposals for reform are regularly revived, and will be revitalized by this study. Secondly, there is a growing campaign for the adoption of a Bill of Rights or for the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Canadian experience provides an object lesson in highlighting the tension between a Bill of Rights and campaign finance reform and the similar problems awaiting reformers in Britain.The Canadian electoral system is the most advanced and sophisticated in the world, and has been the model for reforms in many countries. Scholars and students of constitutional law and politics, electoral law and civil liberties will find this challenging study essential reading.